CD Reviews

Not long enough, in my opinion

sunskills | Ex-TX, now Pseudo City, TN | 11/11/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was in 8th grade when I read a review of this CD in the Dallas Morning News by Thor Christenson--borrowed the money from my parents and begged them to take me over to Bill's Records. My feeble little mind was blown away as soon as I listened to it; of course that does not say much, because that is the same age when Brittany Spears is mind blowing. But even now at 22, it continues to be my favorite album, not just for familiarity's sake or the fact that I've always felt thismuch better than everyone else for discovering such a gem, but it is a genuinely awesome group of songs that should have gotten album of the year. Who's heard of Robert Roth, though? Hiro Yamamoto, yes. Mark Pickeral, yes. But I swear I am so obsessed with Robert Roth, I am eagerly awaiting his solo album coming out this year, hopefully. He is an absolute genius--I've never heard any music like his before. His lyrics go with the style--a love song is not just a love song, it's a summary of an entire group of contrasting feelings. I never skip over anything in this album, I know every song by heart. Each song has depth and drama and is like like a miniature opera. I guess to describe the music itself, I'd have to use such mundane words as mesmerizing, flowing, decadent, trance-like, delerious, perpetual, drowning.I think it is totally worth a blind buy--that's what I did back in 95, and look what a raving lunatic I have become."

Heavy Psychedelic Riffage

derty dee | Seattle, Wa | 01/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was one of the albums I bought when grunge still had some aftershock on my young brain. Then later, when I got into punk and thrash metal I tossed this out along with my some of my Nirvana, Mudhoney and other assorted 'Seattle Grunge' albums. I picked this up again after hearing it at a school bro's house and the next day picked it up at a used CD store. Thank God it was easy to find a copy of this.
These days I've been really getting into the newer bands that emulate a 70's classic rock feel. Some of those bands are Queens of the Stone Age, Unida, Drunk Horse, Goatsnake, etc. I think that these guys really have an awesome sound that differs from any of these aforementioned bands. Roth plays his guitar through some loud low bottom amps. The sound is so heavy and resonating in a Black Sabbath way. And the organ that he uses really thickens out the atmosphere. Yamamoto on bass does his thing on the bass making everything heavier. The man at the skins, Mark Pickerel has a friggin awesome style. This guy has some awesome drum work on this album where he just breaks from keeping the time and adds some quick fills to let you know everyone playing is kicking some a$$. He in his own right gives it an even harder edge. Singing is also done by Roth and is probably the least desirable part of the music it will grow on you. He has a kind of tired moaning that suddenly turns into a frantic scream when he raises his voice. But its perfect for lyrics which are real psychedelic and dark. I think of Kyuss on downers when listening to these guys. There are no real standout tracks here except 'Blue Flame Ford,' which is very catchy but is also the weakest track. Try and find it used somewhere. It's worth paying the price of a new CD for it."